[Automatic] (An Aarmau AU)

[Chapter 10] Tragic Love

Today was the day, I was going to return Nicole to the castle, and finally finish this job.

The events of last night flashed through my mind. Prince Aaron had asked me to the royal party. Me, a common plaza mechanic. It was unreal, it was crazy.

But it had happened, whether I believed it or not, and on an even crazier note, I had said yes.

Now I really had to keep my arm a secret, at least until after the party. I wanted just one more amazing night with Aaron, until reality would come crashing down, and it'd all be ruined forever.

I was going to tell him, eventually. I just didn't want to lose my new friendship with him, as selfish as that sounded. I knew Katelyn didn't react horribly to my arm, but she wasn't royalty, she didn't have standards to follow.

Maybe I shouldn't of accepted the party request. If the word gets out that Prince Aaron had invited a freak like me to the party, who knows what it would do to his reputation. It's bad enough he already invited a plaza mechanic, a half android would send the press through the roof.

And besides, I didn't even own a dress, let alone anything close to fancy enough to attend a royal party as the princes guest. I would have to speak to Katelyn about that, maybe she knew where I could get something to cover my arm.

I heard my old clock chime, signally it was 10 o'clock. I had slept in, consider Aaron and I were out until 1am. I'd told him how the control panel was fixed, and ready to return to its shell. He was eccentric, and had actually hugged me in thanks.

I smiled at the memory. I was happy I had someone like Aaron as a friend, even if it wasn't meant to last. Out of all the people I could've meet, it turned out to be the one and only prince. I don't know if I'm incredible lucky, or if Irene was trying to make up for all the torment I'd endured throughout the years.

I picked up the control panel off my desk, and placed it into my bag. I hadn't told Aaron when to send a car to pick me up, so I just planned on walking. It was only about a 5 mile trip, and I needed the fresh air. I'd been coped up in my apartment for almost a week straight, and honestly, I missed being outside.

I stepped out my apartment door, and jumped when I saw someone leaning against the wall across from it. They had their arms crossed, and head down, so I could identify who it was. "Took you long enough", a feminine voice said, "I thought you might of died in there, or something"

I smiled as Katelyn's familiar face peered up at me. "What are you going here", I asked, hoisting my bag higher up my shoulder. She shrugged her shoulders. "You never called a car to pick you up", she told me, "So I assumed you would just walk, so I decided to join you"

I rolled my eyes, and Katelyn smiled. "We better get going then", I told her, starting down the long hallway, "It's a five mile walk, and I want to get there by noon". She smiled and followed after me, quickly catching up, "So~", she said, a sly look on her face, "I heard you and Aaron were out pretty late last night~"

I stopped in my tracks, my face turning bright red. "W-What do you mean?", I said, trying not to stammer.

"No need to blush", she said, looking over at my beet red face, "I just heard he went out last night"

I started walking again, and tried to cool myself off. "So you just assumed he was with me? Why?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "He's really taken a liking to you", she told me, making me blush harder, "So tell me, what did you two talk about"

I remembered the magic, of last night. How we danced, how we talked, how it just felt perfect. "W-Well", I said nervous, "He uh, well he, uh-"

"Oh just spit it out", she said, with an excited tone in her voice.